Alabama football: The future begins to take shape for Alabama’s marquee unit

No position group has defined the modern era of Alabama football like the defensive line. The otherworldly ability housed across the front is the cog that makes the rest of the historic defenses work. For a decade, it’s been a pass rush that takes no quarter, a run defense that never yields. And as one giant of a lineman graduates to the NFL — almost always to the NFL — another fills his place and seems to perform at an even higher level. This year, with Jonathan Allen gone, its time for Da’Shawn Hand to shine at defensive end, and the junior might be more physically gifted than any of his predecessors.

You may remember the spontaneous Lighting of Bryant-Denny Stadium with phone flashlights during the fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl last year. It was a cool moment, and one that helped Alabama land a linebacker recruit.

Greg Byrne launched his column on Thursday, including an initiative called #RollTideFridays. While the ‘Crimson Column’ name leaves a little to be desired (Byrne Notice???), it is, blessedly, much briefer than the Battle Plan.

Built by Bama

Former Alabama head basketball coach Anthony Grant is off to Ohio to take the top job at Dayton. I’m happy for Grant, and I hope this stop works out for him. He’s a good man and a good basketball coach, but he could never put it all together in Tuscaloosa. While the end of his tenure was inevitable, few coaches had such a run of bad luck as Grant, with injuries and transfers and one of his best recruits caught up in a kidnapping scandal.

Around the Capstone

The baseball team hosts Arkansas this weekend in search of its second SEC win. The Razorbacks are the No. 20 team in the country and 20-5 on the season. Alabama is just below .500, at 12-13. The weekend games will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Before the series, read this feature about an Alabama player’s old-school approach at the plate.